Belviq

Lorcaserin—commonly sold under the brand name Belviq—is an oral weight-loss medication used for chronic weight management. The drug is categorized as a selective serotonin 2C agonist, which functions by activating serotonin receptors to control an individual’s appetite through the hypothalamus region of the brain.

Lorcaserin was first approved for sale on the U.S. market in 2012. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially began clinical trials on Belviq in January 2020 to evaluate the long-term effects on cardiac health. The five-year double-blind study showed no heart risk to users of Belviq. However, a possible cancer risk was detected when comparing the overall cancer rates of Belviq users to the placebo-controlled group used.

Recent clinical trials conducted by the FDA have found that users of Belviq or Belviq XR have an elevated risk of developing cancer—including colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer. On February 13, 2020, the FDA announced that Eisai Inc., the manufacturer of the Belviq line, agreed to voluntarily withdraw both Belviq and Belviq XR from the market after the adverse results of the clinical trial were released. Furthermore, the FDA is currently recommending that all individuals stop taking Belviq or Belviq XR and speak with a health care provider about alternative weight-loss methods and supplements moving forward.

Slater Slater Schulman LLP is currently evaluating claims by individuals that were potentially injured by their use of Belviq. Please call our office at 1-800-251-6990, or fill out the form on this page, and our office will contact you to discuss your potential claim and provide you with valuable information as to your legal options.